No. 11 Spartans Return to Big Ten Action With Road Matchup at Rutgers

Game 6: No. 11/11 Michigan State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) at Rutgers (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten)

Date: Saturday, Oct. 9
Kickoff: 12:01 p.m. EDT
Location: Piscataway, N.J.
Stadium: SHI Stadium (52,454)
Surface: Field Turf
Tickets: scarletknights.com | Live Stats
Live Stats: scarletknights.com

TV: Big Ten Network
Mobile: FOX Sports app
Announcers: Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play), James Laurinaitis (analyst), Rick Pizzo (sideline)

Radio: Spartan Media Network | Affiliate Listings
Play-by-Play: George Blaha
Analyst: Jason Strayhorn
Sidelines: Bobby McAllister
Broadcast Host: Will Tieman
Website/Mobile: msuspartans.com/MSU Spartans app/Tune In radio
Flagship Stations: Lansing: WMMQ (94.9 FM)/WJIM (1240 AM); Detroit: WJR (760 AM); Grand Rapids: WBFX (101.3 FM)
Affiliates: 30 affiliates listed at msuspartans.com
Satellite: Sirius (Ch. 111), XM (Ch. 195), SiriusXM app (Ch. 957)
Pre-game Show: Begins at 10:30 a.m.

All-Time Series: MSU leads, 8-4
All-Time Series in Piscataway: MSU leads, 4-1
Last Meeting: RU 38, MSU 27 (2020)
Current Series Streak: 1 by Rutgers

COACHES:
MSU Head Coach: Mel Tucker
MSU Record: 7-5 (second year)
Overall Record: 12-12 (third year)
Record vs. RU: 0-1

Rutgers Head Coach: Greg Schiano
RU Record: 74-75 (13th year)
Overall Record: 74-75 (13th year)
Record vs. MSU: 2-1

FIRST-AND-10 –
• After defeating Western Kentucky at Spartan Stadium last Saturday night to remain undefeated on the season at 5-0, Michigan State returns to Big Ten action at Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 9 at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. Kickoff is set for noon and the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network, with Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play), James Laurinaitis (analyst) and Rick Pizzo (sideline) on the call.

• The Spartans jumped six spots to No. 11 in this week's Associated Press Poll, the highest ranking for MSU in the AP Poll since 2018 (preseason, No. 11). MSU also moved up five spots to No. 11 in the USA TODAY/AFCA Coaches Poll.

• Rutgers enters Saturday's contest at 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights started the season 3-0 with nonconference victories over Temple, Syracuse and Delaware and have lost to Michigan and Ohio State the past two weeks in conference play.

• Michigan State is 5-0 for the first time since 2015 and for the 13th time overall in school history (1913, 1934, 1944, 1951, 1952, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1997, 1999, 2010, 2015, 2021). Mel Tucker is just the second coach in school history to begin his second season at MSU 5-0 (Charlie Bachman started 5-0 in 1934). The Spartans are looking to start 6-0 for the first time since 2015 and 3-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since 2017.

• Saturday's game marks the 13th meeting between Michigan State and Rutgers. The Spartans lead the overall series, 8-4, including a 6-1 mark in Big Ten play. MSU is 4-1 against Rutgers in Piscataway, including a 3-0 record in Big Ten games. Last season, the Scarlet Knights beat the Spartans, 38-27, on Oct. 24 in Spartan Stadium in the 2020 season opener.

• Michigan State features two players leading the FBS in major statistical categories, as junior running back Kenneth Walker III is No. 1 in rushing (136.0 ypg) and redshirt junior Jayden Reed is No. 1 in all-purpose yards (176.6 ypg). In addition, Walker ranks among the nation's leaders in scoring (fourth at 10.8 ppg), total touchdowns (fourth with 9), rushing TDs (sixth with 8), yards per carry (13th with 6.8 avg.) and all-purpose yards (16th with 139.4 ypg). Reed is tied for the FBS lead with two punt returns for touchdowns, which already ties a school single-season record; he returned back-to-back punts for scores with a game-tying 62-yarder in the fourth quarter vs. Nebraska and an 88-yarder on his first attempt vs. Western Kentucky, tying the fourth-longest punt return in MSU history.

• Reed was recognized on the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll this week for the third time of the season after collecting a career-high 285 all-purpose yards (127 receiving, 88 punt return, 63 kick return, 7 rushing), the seventh-most single-game total in school history, in the win over Western Kentucky. Reed scored the first time he touched the ball against the Hilltoppers with an 88-yard punt return, marking his second consecutive punt return for a touchdown (62 yards vs. Nebraska in fourth quarter). He also had his second 100-yard receiving effort of the season with four catches for 127 yards vs. WKU, including a 46-yard TD in the first quarter. Reed leads the FBS in all-purpose yards (176.6 ypg) and also ranks among the nation's leaders in yards per reception (fifth with 23.2 avg.), kickoff returns (eighth with 30.7 avg.), TD catches (12th with 5), total touchdowns (15th with 8) and receiving yards per game (24th with 92.6 ypg).

• In his first season as the starting quarterback, redshirt sophomore quarterback Payton Thorne has completed 63 percent of his passes (82-of-130) for 1,236 yards, 11 touchdowns and just one interception. He ranks among the Big Ten leaders in passing efficiency (second with 169.3 rating), passing TDs (third with 11), passing (fourth with 247.2 ypg) and total offense (fifth with 262.6 ypg). Thorne threw for a career-high 327 yards in the victory over Western Kentucky while completing 20-of-30 throws. The Naperville, Illinois, product was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week and the Manning Award National Quarterback of the Week for his performance in the win at No. 24 Miami in Week 3. He became just the second Spartan quarterback in school history, joining Connor Cook, to throw for four touchdowns in back-to-back games during MSU's 38-17 victory against the Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. Thorne also threw for a career-high four TDs in the Week 2 win over Youngstown State, and matched that effort against the Hurricanes by completing 18-of-31 passes for 261 yards and four more touchdowns. Cook threw for four TDs in consecutive games against Indiana and Nebraska in 2015.

• Fifth-year graduate senior Jacub Panasiuk has recorded four sacks the past two games (two each vs. Nebraska and Western Kentucky) and leads the Big Ten in tackles for loss with 1.4 per game (7 TFLs for 35 yards). His team-best four sacks are sixth most in the league (0.88 per game). Panasiuk ranks among the school's all-time leaders in sacks (tied for 13th with 13) and tackles for loss (tied for 20th with 28). He has started a total of 35 games, most of any active Spartan.

• Sixth-year graduate senior Matt Coghlin needs just one field goal to become the school's all-time leader in field goals made. Coghlin kicked two field goals vs. Western Kentucky to tie Brett Swenson (2006-09) with 71 career field goals. Coghlin is also closing in on becoming MSU's all-time leading scorer. Swenson also holds that record with 377 career points; Coghlin is currently third in school history with 350 points. Coghlin needs eight points to surpass Michael Geiger (357 points from 2013-16) for second place on the MSU all-time scoring list.

STAT LEADERS –
Michigan State:
Rushing – Jr. Kenneth Walker III (100 carries for 680 yards, 6.8 avg., 8 TDs)
Passing – R-So. Payton Thorne (82-of-130, .631, 1,236 yards, 11 TDs, 1 INT)
Receiving – R-Jr. Jayden Reed (20 catches for 463 yards, 23.2 avg., 5 TDs)
Tackles – Sr. S Xavier Henderson (45 tackles, 29 solo, 16 assists, 5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU)

Rutgers:
Rushing – Jr. Isaih Pacheco (71 carries for 267 yards, 3.8 avg., 3 TDs)
Passing – Sr. Noah Vedral (92-of-138, .667, 914 yards, 6 TDs, 3 INTs)
Receiving – Sr. Bo Melton (24 receptions for 253 yards, 10.5 avg., 2 TDs)
Tackles – Sr. LB Olakunle Fatukasi (49 tackles, 27 solo, 22 assists, 6.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 FF)

MSU/RUTGERS SERIES NOTES –
• Saturday's game marks the 13th meeting between Michigan State and Rutgers. The Spartans lead the overall series, 8-4, including a 6-1 mark in Big Ten play.

• MSU is 4-1 against Rutgers in Piscataway, including a 3-0 record in Big Ten games.

• Last season, the Scarlet Knights beat the Spartans, 38-27, on Oct. 24 in Spartan Stadium in the 2020 season opener.

A QUICK GLANCE AT RUTGERS (3-2, 0-2 BIG TEN) –
• The Scarlet Knights are 3-2 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten action. After Rutgers started 3-0 with wins over Temple (61-14) on Sept. 4, Syracuse (17-7) on Sept. 11 and over Delaware (45-13) on Sept. 18, the Scarlet Knights lost at then-No. 19 Michigan (20-13), on Sept. 25, and at home to then-No. 11 Ohio State (52-13) on Oct. 2.

• Last time out, RU lost to OSU, as the Buckeyes scored on seven of their first eight possessions, only not scoring when the first half ended. The Scarlet Knights were outgained by the Buckeyes, 541-346 in total offense. Ohio State had 333 yards passing and 208 yards rushing, while Rutgers had 235 yards through the air and 111 yards on the ground.

• Senior quarterback Noah Vedral was 16-of-23 passing for 152 yards with one TD, but threw three interceptions. Vedral also had eight rushing attempts for 34 yards.

• Freshman running back Jamier Wright-Collins had four rushes for 38 yards. Senior wide receiver Brandon Sanders led RU's receivers with seven catches for 47 yards, while junior wide receiver Aron Cruickshank had three receptions for 102 yards, including a 75-yard TD pass play from Vedral.

• Senior linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi spearheaded the Scarlet Knight defense with 10 tackles and one pass break-up.

• For the season, RU is eighth in the B1G in both scoring offense (29.8 points per game) and scoring defense (21.2 ppg). Rutgers is 11th in total offense (350.2 ypg), ranking 10th in rushing offense (148.0 ypg) and eighth in passing offense (202.2 ypg). The Scarlet Knight defense is seventh in total defense (316.2 ypg), ranking 11th in rushing defense (131.8 ypg) and fourth in pass defense (186.6 ypg).

• Vedral is 92-of-138 passing for 914 yards, with six TDs and three INTs, ranking tied for fourth in the Big Ten in passing percentage (.667), as well as 10th in passing yards/game (182.8 ypg), tied for seventh in TDs and eighth in total passing yards. He is also second on the team in rushing with 41 rushes for 151 yards (3.7 ypc/30.2 ypg).

• Senior wide receiver Bo Melton is RU's leading receiver with 24 catches for 253 yards (10.5 ypc/50.6 ypg) with two TDs, while Cruickshank has 17 receptions for 206 yards (12.12 ypc/41.2 ypg) with one TD.

• Junior running back Isaih Pacheco leads Rutgers in rushing with 71 carries for 267 yards (3.8 ypc/53.4 ypg) with three TDs.

• Fatukasi tops RU's defense, tallying 49 tackles, ranking second in the Big Ten in tackles/game (9.8), as well as third in the league in total tackles, with nearly as many solo stops (27), as the next leading defender (29 total tackles). Fatukasi also has 22 assists, along with 6.5 tackles for loss, with 3.5 sacks, adding one pass break-up and one forced fumble. He's tied for third in the Big Ten with 1.3 TFL/game, while ranking tied for fourth in total TFL.

• Junior placekicker Valentino Ambrosio is 5-of-7 on FGs (71.4 percent) with a long of 40 yards, and is 18-of-19 on PATs. Ambrosio also handles kickoffs, and has 29 kickoffs for a 61.0 ypk average with 11 touchbacks.

• Senior punter Adam Korsak has 20 punts for a 49.3 ypp average with a long of 69-yards, one of nine of 50+ yards, with 10 inside the 20. Korsak is second in the Big Ten and fifth in the FBS in punting.

• Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano is in his second season back as the Scarlet Knights' head coach, previously coaching there from 2001-11. He has a 74-75 total record in his 13th overall.

Kenneth Walker III vs Western Kentucky

LAST TIME OUT: MSU 48, WESTERN KENTUCKY 31
• In the first-ever meeting between the two schools, Michigan State defeated Western Kentucky, 48-31, last Saturday night in Spartan Stadium . . . it marked the 25th night game in Spartan Stadium history . . . MSU improved to 18-7 in night games at Spartan Stadium.

• It marked the 105th Homecoming game in school history . . . MSU is now 69-33-3 in Homecoming games.

OFFENSE
• Michigan State collected more than 500 yards of total offense for the third time this season (595 vs. Youngstown State; 511 vs. Northwestern).

• Jayden Reed recorded a career-high 285 all-purpose yards (127 receiving, 88 punt return, 63 kick return, 7 rushing), the seventh-highest single-game total in MSU history . . . Reed had his second 100-yard receiving effort of the season (181 vs. Youngstown State) and seventh of his career (four at WMU in 2018; one at MSU in 2020; two at MSU in 2021) . . . Reed scored on an 88-yard punt return and a 46-yard TD reception in the first quarter . . . he has scored a total of eight touchdowns this season (five receiving, two punt return, one rushing).

• Kenneth Walker III had his third 100-yard rushing game of the season with 126 yards on 24 carries . . . he scored three touchdowns in the first half (5, 5 and 3 yards) and now has eight rushing TDs this season . . . it marked the eighth 100-yard rushing game in Walker's collegiate career (two at Wake Forest in 2019; three at Wake Forest in 2020; three at Michigan State in 2021).

• Jalen Nailor posted career highs for receptions (8) and receiving yards (128), including 98 yards after the catch . . . with Nailor (128) and Reed (127) both posting 100-yard receiving games, it marked the first time two MSU receivers had 100-yard efforts in the same game since Dec. 3, 2011, vs. Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game (B.J. Cunningham, five catches for 115 yards; Keshawn Martin, nine catches for 115 yards).

• Payton Thorne threw for a career-high 327 yards and one touchdown on 20-of-30 passing . . . he connected on a 46-yard TD to Reed in the first quarter . . . Thorne scored his second rushing TD of the season and third of his career on a 12-yard scamper in the second quarter.

• Michigan State scored 42 points in the first half . . . it was the most points in the first half since Sept. 27, 2014, vs. Wyoming (42 points) . . . the modern-day school record (post-WWII) for most points in the first half is 49 (vs. Eastern Michigan on Sept. 20, 2014).

DEFENSE
• Sophomore safety Angelo Grose had a career-high 16 tackles to lead the Spartans.

• Redshirt freshman linebacker Cal Haladay posted a career-high 10 tackles, including one for a 3-yard loss . . . he also forced and recovered a fumble in the second quarter that led to MSU's sixth TD of the first half.

• Fifth-year senior defensive end Jacub Panasiuk tied his career high with two sacks for the second consecutive week . . . he now has 13 career sacks, which is tied for 13th in school history . . . he also has 28 TFLs, which is tied for 20th in school history.

• Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Maverick Hansen posted his first career sack (9 yards).

SPECIAL TEAMS
• Jayden Reed returned a punt 88 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, tying for the fourth-longest punt return in school history . . . Reed has returned back-to-back punts for a TD (fourth quarter vs. Nebraska, 62 yards) . . . Reed is just the third player in school history to return two punts for a touchdown in the same season (Bill Simpson, 1972; James Ellis, 1951) . . . both Simpson and Ellis also returned their punts for touchdowns in back-to-back games (Simpson: 48 yards vs. Illinois on Sept. 16, 1972; 74 yards vs. Georgia Tech on Sept. 23, 1972; Ellis: 57 yards vs. Penn State on Oct. 20, 1951; 55 yards vs. Pittsburgh on Oct. 27, 1951) . . . Ellis also returned his on back-to-back attempts, although there were other punts downed and returned by other players (Leroy Bolden) between his TD returns, where Reed returned his on back-to-back punts.

• Matt Coghlin kicked two field goals to tie Brett Swenson's school career record of 71 . . . Coghlin connected on a 21-yard field goal in the third quarter and a 20-yarder in the fourth quarter . . . Coghlin is 71-for-96 on field-goal attempts during his career, dating back to 2017.

OFFENSIVE NOTES:

TEAM
• The Spartans are fourth in the Big Ten and 18th in the FBS in scoring offense (37.8 ppg) and fourth in the conference and 24th overall in total offense (466.6 ypg).

• MSU's resurgent rushing attack ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 24th in the FBS, averaging 210.8 yards per game. The Spartans accumulated 326 rushing yards at Northwestern – the first time MSU put up more than 300 rushing yards in a game since 2014 (330 yards at Indiana) – and had 272 yards on the ground against Youngstown State and 193 at Miami. MSU is averaging 5.9 yards per carry, tied for 10th best in the FBS.

• Michigan State scored a touchdown on its first play from scrimmage in the first two games of the season. Against Northwestern, junior transfer running back Kenneth Walker III raced 75 yards to the end zone on his first carry as a Spartan, while Payton Thorne found Jayden Reed on a 75-yard touchdown pass against Youngstown State. Dating back to 1944 when school single-game play-by-play records are available, Walker's 75-yard TD marked the first time Michigan State has scored on its first play from scrimmage to start a season. Before the season opener, the last time MSU scored on its first play from scrimmage was on Sept. 25, 2010, against Northern Colorado, as Edwin Baker had a 5-yard run following an interception on UNC's first possession that gave MSU first-and-goal from the 5.

QUARTERBACKS
• Redshirt sophomore quarterback Payton Thorne, who started in the 2020 season finale at Penn State, was named the team's starting quarterback in Week 1 against Northwestern after competing with sixth-year graduate transfer Anthony Russo (Temple) during spring practice and preseason camp. Thorne owns a 5-1 record as a starting quarterback at MSU (5-0 in 2021).

• In his first season as the starting quarterback, Thorne has completed 63 percent of his passes (82-of-130) for 1,236 yards, 11 touchdowns and just one interception. He ranks among the Big Ten leaders in passing efficiency (second with 169.3 rating), passing TDs (third with 11), passing (fourth with 247.2 ypg) and total offense (fifth with 262.6 ypg). Thorne also ranks third on the team in rushing with a net of 77 yards on 30 carries with two TDs, although he has gained a total of 143 yards on the ground.

• Thorne threw for a career-high 327 yards in the victory over Western Kentucky while completing 20-of-30 throws. He also had a 12-yard rushing touchdown.

• The product of Naperville, Illinois, was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week by the conference office on Sept. 20 and was also recognized as one of the Davey O'Brien Award's Great 8 performances of Week 3. Thorne became just the second Spartan quarterback in school history, joining Connor Cook, to throw for four touchdowns in back-to-back games during MSU's 38-17 victory at then-No. 24 Miami in Week 3 at Hard Rock Stadium. Thorne threw for a career-high four TDs in the Week 2 win over Youngstown State, and matched that effort against the Hurricanes by completing 18-of-31 passes for 261 yards and four more touchdowns. Cook threw for four TDs in consecutive games against Indiana and Nebraska in 2015.

• At Miami, Thorne first found Kenneth Walker III on a 7-yard screen pass for a score in the second quarter, then connected with Jalen Nailor on an 11-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Thorne's third TD pass of the game came on a third-and-7 play early in the fourth as he hit Jayden Reed in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown. Although Thorne ended up with a net of 4 rushing yards, he scrambled for a 22-yard gain on a third-and-6 play and also converted on fourth-and-1 with a quarterback sneak to propel a touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter to make it 31-17 in favor of MSU. Thorne finished the eight-play, 75-yard drive by finding Nailor in the end zone for a 39-yard pass, one play after getting the first down on the QB sneak.

• In the 42-14 win over Youngstown State in Week 2, Thorne completed 15-of-21 passes for 280 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. It marked the first time a Spartan quarterback threw for four TDs in a game since Brian Lewerke vs. Northwestern in 2017. Thorne also had 19 yards rushing on three carries (6.3 avg.), including a 10-yard TD run.

• In his second career start, Thorne threw for 185 yards on 15-of-25 passing with one TD at Northwestern in Week 1 to earn his first win as the Spartans' starting QB. Thorne also rushed for 28 yards on five carries.

RUNNING BACKS
• Junior running back Kenneth Walker III, a transfer from Wake Forest, is having a dynamic start to the season. Walker leads the FBS in rushing (680 yards; 136.0 ypg) and also ranks among the nation's leaders in scoring (fourth at 10.8 ppg), total touchdowns (fourth with 9), rushing TDs (sixth with 8), yards per carry (13th with 6.8 avg.) and all-purpose yards (16th with 139.4 ypg). According to Pro Football Focus, Walker leads the country in rushing yards after contact (515) and ranks second in the FBS with 19 rushes of 10-plus yards.

• Walker had a record-setting debut as a Spartan, rushing for a career-high 264 yards – the seventh-highest total in school history – while scoring a career-high four touchdowns to lead the Spartans past Northwestern on Sept. 3. It marked the most rushing yards by a Spartan in a debut wearing the Green and White and the second most by a player in the FBS this season. Walker became just the second Spartan to record more than 250 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the same game (Eric Allen, school-record 350 yards and four TDs vs. Purdue on Oct. 30, 1971).

• After seeing limited action in Week 2 vs. Youngstown State (seven carries for 57 yards, 1 TD, 8.1 avg.), Walker was back at it in the victory at Miami on Sept. 18, compiling 172 yards on the ground on 27 carries (6.4 avg.) while also catching three passes for 17 yards, including his first career TD reception on a 7-yard screen pass in the second quarter.

• Walker had his third 100-yard rushing game of the season with 126 yards on 24 carries in the victory over Western Kentucky in Week 5. He scored three touchdowns in the first half (5, 5 and 3 yards) and now has eight rushing TDs this season. It marked the eighth 100-yard rushing game in Walker's collegiate career (two at Wake Forest in 2019; three at Wake Forest in 2020; three at Michigan State in 2021).

• Walker is averaging 155.8 rushing yards per game against FBS opponents this season (264 vs. Northwestern; 172 vs. Miami; 61 vs. Nebraska; 126 vs. Western Kentucky).

• Sophomore Jordon Simmons, who led the team in rushing as a true freshman with 219 yards on 56 carries (3.9 avg.) in five games, ranks second on the team with 179 rushing yards on 36 carries (35.8 ypg; 5.0 avg.). Simmons recorded his first 100-yard rushing game with 121 yards on 16 carries in the win over Youngstown State in Week 2.

• Redshirt junior Elijah Collins, who led the team with 988 rushing yards as a redshirt freshman in 2019, had three carries for 32 yards and one catch for a 20-yard TD against Youngstown State in Week 2 before leaving the game with an injury. He has not seen game action the past three weeks.

WIDE RECEIVERS
• Redshirt junior Jayden Reed leads the FBS in all-purpose yards (176.6 ypg) and also ranks among the nation's leaders in yards per reception (fifth with 23.2 avg.), kickoff returns (eighth with 30.7 avg.), TD catches (12th with 5), total touchdowns (15th with 8) and receiving yards per game (24th with 92.6 ypg). He leads the Spartans with 20 catches for 463 yards and five receiving TDs.

• Reed was recognized on the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll this week for the third time of the season after collecting a career-high 285 all-purpose yards (127 receiving, 88 punt return, 63 kick return, 7 rushing), the seventh-most single-game total in school history, in the win over Western Kentucky. Reed scored the first time he touched the ball against the Hilltoppers with an 88-yard punt return, marking his second consecutive punt return for a touchdown (62 yards vs. Nebraska in fourth quarter). He also had his second 100-yard receiving effort of the season with four catches for 127 yards vs. WKU, including a 46-yard TD in the first quarter.

• Reed was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 27; he was also recognized on the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for the second time this season (Week 2 vs. Youngstown State). With MSU trailing 20-13 to Nebraska late in the fourth quarter, Reed returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown to tie the game with 3:47 remaining, setting the stage for an overtime win over the Huskers. It marked MSU's first punt return for a touchdown since Nov. 26, 2011 (Keshawn Martin 57 yards at Northwestern). Reed finished the game with 192 all-purpose yards (69 kick return, 62 punt return, 59 receiving, 2 rushing). His 41-yard kick return in the second quarter set up an MSU field goal. He also hauled in four passes for 59 yards, including a 35-yard TD catch from Thorne in the second quarter.

• Reed caught four passes for a career-high 181 yards against Youngstown State in Week 2; two of those catches came for 160 yards in the first half alone (75 yard TD on first play of the game; 85 yard TD in second quarter). Reed has seven 100-yard receiving games in his career (four at Western Michigan in 2018; one at MSU in 2020; two at MSU in 2021). He also tallied 264 all-purpose yards (181 receiving, 32 kick return, 48 punt return) against YSU. Reed's 181-yard receiving effort vs. YSU is the highest in the Big Ten in 2021.

• Redshirt junior Jalen Nailor has 18 catches for 269 yards and three TDs. He matched his career high with two TD catches at Miami, including a 39-yard grab in the end zone in the fourth quarter. Nailor posted career highs in receptions (8) and receiving yards (128) vs. Western Kentucky in Week 5.

• Nailor topped the 1,000 career yards mark in the Western Kentucky game, becoming the 46th player in MSU history to reach 1,000 career receiving yards. He has 67 catches for 1,028 yards in 24 collegiate games.

• Redshirt sophomore Tre Mosley ranks third on the team with 16 catches for 250 yards; he had a career-long 51-yard reception at Miami and a season-best six receptions for 70 yards vs. Nebraska.

TIGHT ENDS
• Redshirt senior Connor Heyward converted from running back to tight end during preseason camp, and has started the first five games at his new position. Heyward has 11 catches for 121 yards and has been a key blocker for the Spartans in their four victories.

• Former walk-on punter Tyler Hunt made the position switch to tight end in 2020 and has four catches for 36 yards in four games this season, including a starting assignment vs. Youngstown State.

OFFENSIVE LINE
• Michigan State's offensive line had 152 career starts returning in 2021, which ranked third most in the FBS. MSU has nine players of multiple games of starting experience.

• Michigan State has used the same starting lineup in all five games, but regularly rotates nine offensive linemen in its rotation.

• Redshirt senior Kevin Jarvis leads the way with 32 career starts. He has started at left tackle (three games in 2019) and right tackle (seven games in 2020) during the past two seasons, but has started the first five games of 2021 at right guard, where he started 17 games in 2017-18.

• Jarrett Horst, a transfer from Arkansas State, has started the first five games at left tackle. A member of the Outland Trophy Watch List, Horst started 20 games in 2019-20 at left tackle at Arkansas State.

• Junior J.D. Duplain has 15 career starts at left guard, including all five games in 2021.

• Sixth-year graduate Matt Allen, who only played in one game in 2020 due to a foot injury, has started the first five games at center. He has started 22 overall games at center throughout his career.

• Sixth-year graduate AJ Arcuri started all seven games at left tackle in 2020, but made the move to right tackle this season with the addition of Horst, and has started at his new position all five games in 2021.

• Center Nick Samac, left guard Blake Bueter, right guard Matt Carrick and left tackle Luke Campbell also see regular time in the playing rotation and all have multiple games of starting experience.

Darius Snow vs Western Kentucky

DEFENSIVE NOTES:

DEFENSIVE LINE
• Michigan State returns both starting defensive ends in 2021 in sixth-year graduate Drew Beesley and fifth-year graduate Jacub Panasiuk.

• Panasiuk has 35 career starts to his credit, most of any active Spartan, including all five games this season. He has recorded four sacks the past two games (two each vs. Nebraska and Western Kentucky) and leads the Big Ten in tackles for loss with 1.4 per game (7 TFLs for 35 yards). His team-best four sacks are sixth most in the league (0.88 per game). He was named the Pro Football Focus National Defensive Player of the Week after collecting a career-high two sacks vs. Nebraska; he had seven stops overall against the Huskers.

• Panasiuk ranks among the school's all-time leaders in sacks (tied for 13th with 13) and tackles for loss (tied for 20th with 28).

• Beesley left the Nebraska game in the second quarter due to an injury. He has 11 tackles, including 2.5 sacks, in three games of action in 2021.

• Sophomore Jeff Pietrowski, who earned his first career start in Week 2 vs. Youngstown State, has 17 tackles, including 3.5 sacks (14 yards) and 4.0 TFLs (17 yards). He has also recovered a fumble and forced a fumble this season.

• Michigan State has four players with starting experience on the defensive line, including redshirt junior Jacob Slade, redshirt junior Dashaun Mallory, redshirt sophomore Jalen Hunt and redshirt freshman Simeon Barrow. Slade had a career game against Nebraska with eight tackles and has 11 stops overall this season with one sack and two TFLs. Barrow has started all five games and leads all Spartan defensive lineman with 18 tackles (0.5 TFLs).

LINEBACKERS
• Quavaris Crouch, a junior transfer from Tennessee, started 10 games for the Volunteers last season and has started the first five games of 2021 for the Spartans. Crouch ranks fourth on the team with 33 tackles, including two sacks (10 yards), two QB hurries, one pass break-up, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

• Redshirt freshman Cal Haladay earned his first career start in Week 1 and has kept his starting role ever since. Haladay is third on the team with 37 tackles.

SECONDARY
• Senior Xavier Henderson has started a team-best 25 consecutive games at safety for the Spartans. He leads the team and ranks fifth in the Big Ten in tackles with 45 (9.0 avg). Henderson recorded a career-high 17 tackles vs. Nebraska, the most by a Spartan since Montae Nicholson in 2016.

• Sophomore Angelo Grose, who started four games as a true freshman at nickelback in 2020, made the move to safety in spring practice and has started the first five games at his new position this year. Grose recorded his first career interception in the win at Miami and ranks second on the team with 39 tackles after collecting a career-high 16 vs. WKU. He also leads the team with three pass break-ups.

• At nickelback, redshirt junior Michael Dowell (22 tackles, 3 PBUs) started the first four games; sophomore Darius Snow (18 tackles, 2.5 TFLs) earned his first career start vs. Western Kentucky in Week 5.

• Senior transfer Ronald Williams (Alabama) has started four of the first five games for the Spartans. He has 17 tackles, including two TFLs, one sack and one interception (vs. Miami).

• Junior transfer Chester Kimbrough (Florida) has started the last four games at corner for the Spartans. Kimbrough recorded his first career interception in overtime in the win over Nebraska. He has 15 tackles on the season.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES:

KICKER
• Sixth-year graduate Matt Coghlin has been the team's starting placekicker for the past five seasons, dating back to 2017. Coghlin needs just one field goal to become the school's all-time leader in field goals made. He kicked two field goals vs. Western Kentucky to tie Brett Swenson (2006-09) with 71 career field goals.

• Coghlin is also closing in on becoming MSU's all-time leading scorer. Swenson also holds that record with 377 career points; Coghlin is currently third in school history with 350 points. Coghlin needs eight points to surpass Michael Geiger (357 points from 2013-16) for second place on the MSU all-time scoring list.

• Coghlin picked up All-Big Ten honors for the fourth time in his career in 2020 (2018, first team, media; 2017 and 2019-20, honorable mention) in addition to earning Academic All-Big Ten honors for the fourth year in a row.

• Coghlin was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time in his career after going 3-of-4 on field goals in the win over No. 8 Northwestern on Nov. 28, 2020, including the game-winner from 48 yards out with 3:35 left in the game that put MSU on top, 23-20, in the eventual 29-20 victory.

• Coghlin connected on 3-of-4 field goals against Nebraska in Week 4, including the fifth game-winning field goal of his career with a 21-yarder in overtime. His four previous game-winners include a 34-yarder as time expired to beat No. 7 Penn State in 2017; a 21-yarder with five seconds left to defeat Indiana in 2019; a 33-yarder to beat Maryland in 2019; and a 48-yarder with 3:35 remaining to beat No. 8 Northwestern in 2020.

PUNTER
• Redshirt senior Bryce Baringer ranks first in the Big Ten and second in the FBS in punting (51.9 avg.). He's also tied for first with 11 punts of 50-plus yards, including four punts of 60-plus yards. Baringer is tied for sixth in the league with eight punts inside the 20.

• Baringer averaged 58.8 yards per punt (six punts for 353 yards) vs. Nebraska in Week 4, the second-highest single-game punting average in Big Ten history. Baringer had a career-long of 67 yards, a new season-long for the second week in a row after a 65-yarder at Miami, and part of a career-best five punts over 50-yard for the night, including three of 60-plus yards. Only former Spartan All-American punter Mike Sadler had a higher single-game punting average in the history of the Big Ten (minimum four punts; 59.2 avg. vs. Indiana on Oct. 12, 2013; four punts for 237 yards). Prior to the game on Sept. 25, Michigan State and Nebraska honored the memories of Sadler and 2015 Big Ten Punter of the Year Sam Foltz as Mike's mother, Karen, and sister, Katie, along with Sam's parents Jill and Gerald Foltz, participated in the coin toss. Mike Sadler and Sam Foltz were both tragically killed in a car accident on July 23, 2016, while working a kicking camp near Waukesha, Wisconsin. It marked the first time Nebraska had played in East Lansing since the tragic accident.

• Baringer was a walk-on who joined the team in September 2018 and punted in four games. He was not on the 2019 roster, but rejoined the team as a walk-on in 2020 and earned the starting position in all seven games. Baringer earned a scholarship prior to the 2021 season.

RETURNS
• Redshirt junior Jayden Reed leads the team in kick returns (six for 184 yards, 30.7 avg.) and punt returns (five for 198 yards; 39.6 avg.). He ranks second in the Big Ten and eighth in the FBS in kick returns (30.7 avg.). Although he doesn't qualify yet due to a statistic minimum in the NCAA stats (1.2 returns per game), Reed would lead the nation in punt returns with his 39.6 average and is tied for the lead with two punt returns for TDs.

• Reed is No. 1 in the FBS in all-purpose yards (176.6 ypg).

• Reed is tied for the FBS lead with two punt returns for touchdowns, which already ties a school single-season record; he returned back-to-back punts for scores with a game-tying 62-yarder in the fourth quarter vs. Nebraska and an 88-yarder on his first attempt vs. Western Kentucky, tying the fourth-longest punt return in MSU history.

• Reed returned back-to-back punts for a TD (fourth quarter vs. Nebraska, 62 yards; first quarter vs. Western Kentucky, 88 yards) to become just the third player in school history to return two punts for a touchdown in the same season (Bill Simpson, 1972; James Ellis, 1951); both Simpson and Ellis also returned their punts for touchdowns in back-to-back games (Simpson: 48 yards vs. Illinois on Sept. 16, 1972; 74 yards vs. Georgia Tech on Sept. 23, 1972; Ellis: 57 yards vs. Penn State on Oct. 20, 1951; 55 yards vs. Pittsburgh on Oct. 27, 1951). Ellis also returned his on back-to-back attempts, although there were other punts downed and returned by other players (Leroy Bolden) between his TD returns, where Reed returned his on back-to-back punts.

• Reed's 62-yard punt return for a TD vs. Nebraska in Week 4 was the first punt return for a score by a Spartan since Nov. 26, 2011, when Keshawn Martin returned a punt 57 yards for a TD at Northwestern.

• Reed is tied for first among active FBS players with three punt returns for touchdowns in his career. He also had a 93-yard punt return for a TD as a freshman at Western Michigan in 2018 against Delaware State. Reed was a Freshman All-American at WMU in 2018 after collecting 1,119 all-purpose yards (797 receiving, 215 punt return, 116 kick return, -7 rushing).

No. 11 Spartans Return to Big Ten Action With Road Matchup at Rutgers

Game 6: No. 11/11 Michigan State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) at Rutgers (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten)

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Players Mentioned

Matt Allen

AJ Arcuri

Bryce Baringer

Simeon Barrow Jr.

Drew Beesley

Blake Bueter

Luke Campbell

Matt Carrick

Matt Coghlin

Elijah Collins

Quavaris Crouch

Michael Dowell

J.D. Duplain

Angelo Grose

Cal Haladay

Maverick Hansen

Xavier Henderson

Connor Heyward

Jarrett Horst

Jalen Hunt

Tyler Hunt

Kevin Jarvis

Chester Kimbrough

Dashaun Mallory

Tre Mosley

Jalen Nailor

Jacub Panasiuk

Jeff Pietrowski Jr.

Jayden Reed

Anthony Russo

Nick Samac

Jordon Simmons

Jacob Slade

Darius Snow

Payton Thorne

Kenneth Walker III

Ronald Williams II

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